Pros
Half days off before public holidays, days off following Thanksgiving, Christmas, and the day before New Year's. Food is frequently catered during the week. Overall, the corporate culture is nice, but this isn't the case for Legal and Compliance.
Cons
The CLO is known to cause chaos and anger in other departments through overly aggressive tactics and a desire to control. CLO applies excessively strict processes, ignores the firm's culture of flexibility, which is disliked by many partners, and pushes a self-serving agenda, creating bad blood. CLO/CCO tend to self-aggrandize. The same can be said for the CCO, who toes the line of the widely disliked CLO. The CCO is well-known for gaslighting staff and often lacks practical communication skills, frequently sending mixed messages. This has been the main issue during the employee survey in compliance. The CCO is self-righteous, condescending, and fearful of seeking team feedback. Senior partners have had heated arguments with the CCO. It's the CCO's way or no way. Ironically, according to a close source, the CCO is interviewing with other firms. There are only about six compliance team members supporting the entire firm, and there is no longer a NY-based compliance position that was once held by a well-respected and liked compliance officer. Morale is extremely low in both departments, with low pay and relentless work 24/7/365. Legal and compliance team members pretend to work, buying time until the next opportunity. Pay is well below market compared to peers, and annual pay raises are minimal. High turnover, dissatisfied staff, overwork, lack of appreciation or acknowledgment, and increasing demand for more work create a toxic environment. One employee left after a year in 2025, and another left in less than six months, the latest I've heard. Employee annual performance reviews can be ultimately "scrubbed negatively" by the CLO (whom you have no working relationship with in Legal, other than overseeing L/C), and possibly by the CCO. The CCO will never advocate for staff. If you enjoy being constantly criticized and mentally abused by the CLO and the CCO, this place might be for you.
